• Rifaat al-Assad, uncle of Bashar al-Assad, dies at 88 in the UAE.
• He was known as the "Butcher of Hama" for his role in the 1982 massacre.
• Rifaat attempted a coup against his brother Hafez al-Assad and spent years in exile.
• He faced legal troubles regarding corruption and war crimes accusations.

Rifaat al-Assad, the brother of late Syrian President Hafez al-Assad and uncle to Bashar al-Assad, has died at the age of 88 in the United Arab Emirates, as confirmed by multiple sources on January 21, 2026. He was infamously known as the "Butcher of Hama" for leading a brutal crackdown on rebels in the city during the 1982 uprising, which resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, including reports of up to 40,000 civilians killed, according to estimates by the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) and other sources. His death follows years of exile, politically motivated actions, and significant legal issues related to his wealth and conduct, according to Reuters, Middle East Eye, and Al Jazeera.

Rifaat gained notoriety for commanding the defense forces during the Hama massacre, which was a pivotal moment in Syrian history. His forces encircled and saturated the city with artillery and airstrikes, effectively decimating resistance from the Muslim Brotherhood. This act of violence has been deemed a model for the future approaches taken by the Assad regime against unrest, as highlighted by various human rights groups and historical accounts, as noted by Reuters and Middle East Eye.

Following his brother's rise to power, Rifaat attempted to seize control during a period of political instability, leading to a failed coup in 1984 that resulted in his exile. Over the years, he became embroiled in various legal troubles, including a notable conviction for money laundering in France, and was urgently wanted by Swiss authorities for war crimes related to his actions in Hama. His life trajectory saw him oscillating between political power grabs and legal battles, emphasizing the volatility of the Assad family legacy within Syria, according to Al Jazeera and Middle East Eye.

Rifaat returned to Syria briefly in 2021, only to flee again after the ousting of his nephew in December 2024. His passing signifies the end of an era for one of the most controversial figures in Syria's modern history, whose actions continue to resonate through ongoing discussions about the regime's human rights abuses, as reported by Reuters, Middle East Eye, and Al Jazeera.